He was admitted to Nottingham City Hospital, but despite doctors’ best efforts, they could not find the cause of the illness and told Ben he would need surgery to remove the affected area of his lung to prevent the infection from spreading.

Robin Hood half Marathon 2017 results

How the day unfolded

More than 12,000 runners descended on Nottingham’s Victoria Embankment for the Robin Hood Marathon, Half Marathon and Mini Marathon 2017.

Runners were raising thousands of pounds for good causes including the Stroke Association, the Nottingham University Hospitals , and Macmillan nurses.

The sun was shining over the River Trent as spectators cheered on friends and family that took part in one of three races – the marathon and half marathon at 9.30am followed by the 1.5 mile mini marathon for parents and their children at 10am.

Poignant moment for Dominic who finishes 12 month challenge

The race was particularly poignant for Dominic Bowen, 38, from Aspley, who was completing his final race in a 12 month challenge in aid of the Stroke Association.

He told the Post: “I have ran 24 half marathons and this is full marathon number 15. I have also ran a 50K ultra race and a 2,000 mile one. My mum had a stroke last year and it is the 20th anniversary of my nan dying from complications from a stroke. I have raised over £4,500 so far.”

She looks happy

And they are off

Live on Facebook

We are going to be live on Facebook any moment. Click here to check it out and don’t forget to like our page.

09:28Dan Russell

A great cause

Thirty-five students from Sutton Bonington campus will be running the Robin Hood Half Marathon to help homeless people's pets.

Thirty-five students from Sutton Bonington campus will be running the half marathon to help homeless people’s pets. The charity is Vets in the Community based at the University of Nottingham providing vet aid to homeless people’s pets.

Talking on behalf of the runners, Olivia Bass, 21, said: “It is important because it raises morale.

“Doing the half marathon for a really important charity affiliated with the vet school makes it more important. We are giving something back.”

Meet the runners

Half marathon runners Emma Hancox, 21, and Liam Ingscoe-Jones, 21, from Linton are both University of Nottingham students.

They are raising money for anti-slavery international.

Emma said: “It is a charity we both support as we run a society at the university.

“We have been part of the society for three years and we are both into running so why not kick off with this as our first fund-raiser of the year.”

Liam added: “We have been training for it. I was aboard for three weeks so I’ve tried to keep up with my training. We are hoping to complete it in 2hrs 10.”

08:47Dan Russell

The warm up begins

Robin Hood Marthon 2017 warm up (Image: Matt Jarram )

08:40Dan Russell

The Robin Hood Marathon and Half Marathon 2017 in numbers

More than 13,000 people are expected to run in this year’s marathon

3 car parks

9 water stations

21 cheerleaders

110 event staff hotel rooms

193 portable toilets

837 route and race village marshals

1,602 metres of barriers

9,984 Boost Bars

13,100 medals

13,104 Alpen Bars

54,040 water pouches

And a partridge in a pear tree... only joking.

08:31Dan Russell

The History

Today, Nottingham will play host to the 37th Robin Hood marathon and half marathon.

Over 13,000 people are expected to run in this year’s marathon.

Last year’s male marathon was won by Adam Holland, who clocked a time of 2 hours 7 minutes and 25 seconds. The female marathon was won by Joanne Nelson, who achieved a time of 2 hours 56 minutes and 9 seconds.

The male half marthon was won by Barnaba Kipkoech, with a time of 1 hour 5 minutes and 55 seconds. The female half marathon was won by Winfridah Moseti, who completed it in a time of 1 hour 12 minutes and 57 seconds.